Arkansas Correction Agency Loses Drug Company Account

The Arkansas Department of Correction says a pharmaceutical company has closed its account after the state last month acknowledged plans to use its anti-seizure drug phenobarbital in executions.

Department of Correction spokeswoman Shea Wilson told The Associated Press that West-Ward Pharmaceuticals officials notified the agency Wednesday that the company was closing the prison system's account.

The agency said last month that it would use phenobarbital in executions, even though the barbiturate has never been used in U.S. lethal injections.

West-Ward's London-based parent company, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, said Wednesday that it objects to its products' use in capital punishment.

Hikma also said it would no longer sell injectable phenobarbital directly to U.S. corrections departments.

However, Hikma spokesman Matthew Cole would not discuss specifics about Arkansas' account. Arkansas doesn't have any pending executions.